Wedge action can opener improvement



April 21', I1964 R, El MCLEAN 3,129,509

WEDGE ACTION CAN OPENER IMPROVEMENT File@ March 13, 1962 2 shets sheet 126 Z/d 25 Z/a 27 a? ZQ 35 40 j 22 4,3 47

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April 21, 1964:, i R. E. McLEAN 3,129,509

WEDGE ACTION CAN OPENER IMPROVEMENT Filed March 13, 1962 H 2Sheets-Sheet 2v United States Patent O `ce 3,129,509 WEDGE ACTION CANOPENER IMPROVEMENT Robert E. Mclean, Raytown, Mo., assigner, by mesneassignments, to Rival Manufacturing Company, a corporation of MissouriFiled Mar. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 179,398 11 Claims. (Cl. Sil-15.5)

This invention relates to can openers and refers particularly toimprovements in can openers of the rotary drive wheel type. Yet further,the invention relates to can openers in which the cutter wheel of thecan opener employs a coaxial cone or thrust wheel integral therewith andin which the can opener feed wheel employs a second cone or thrust wheelcoaxial with itself, these parts cooperating in action to provide awedge action wherein the side wall of the can, the can feed wheel andthe cone or thrust wheel coaxial therewith are resiliently but yieldablywedged between the cutter wheel and the coaxial cone or thrust wheelintegral with the latter.

This invention is an improvement over the constructions employing suchwedge action disclosed in the following U.S. patents issued to theinstant inventor: 2,592,934, issued April 15, 1952; 2,592,937, issuedApril 15, 1952; 2,644,228, issued July 7, 1953, and 2,866,263, issuedDecember 30, 1958. A principal object of the instant invention is toprovide improved can opener construction with improved operatingfeatures over those disclosed in the above listed U.S. patents, whereinare disclosed structures incorporating a cutter wheel of the can openerwith a coaxial cone or thrust wheel integral therewith, a can feed wheelhaving a cone or thrust wheel coaxial therewith also, wherein the saidcan feed wheel and cone or thrust wheel coaxial therewith, together witha side wall portion of a can engaged in the can opener, are yieldablysqueezed between the said cutter wheel and its integral coaxial cone orthrust wheel to maintain the can feed wheel under the lower edge of thecan rim or flange at all times in such manner that the results obtainedare not dependent on the bearings of the shaft carrying the cutter wheelor the bear-ings for the shaft carrying can feed wheel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wedge actionconstruction as described in which the cone or thrust wheel which iscoaxial with the can feed wheel also serves as a can guiding wheel whichresiliently but yieldably bears on the rim or flange of the can engagedin the can opener at points both forward and rearward of the axis of thecan feed wheel and likewise forward and rearward of the axis of thecutter wheel whereby to maintain the axis of the engaged cansubstantially in line with the axis of the can feed wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge actionconstruction as previously described in which a smooth periphery cansupporting wheel may be substituted for the heretofore disclosed andemployed toothed periphery can feed wheel wherein the cone or thrustwheel coaxial with the smooth periphery can supporting wheel is providedwith suitable teeth to laterally engage the rim or ange of the can forthe purpose of feeding the can in relation to the cutter wheel.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide such a wedgeaction construction in which a smooth periphery can supporting wheel isemployed in conjunction with a coaxial cone or thrust wheel havingsuitable teeth to laterally engage the rim or ange of a can whereby saidtoothed coaxial cone or thrust wheel serves as the can feed wheel inplace of the previously known toothed periphery can feed wheel wherebyto provide an operating combination wherein the rim or flange of anengaged can is resiliently but yieldably squeezed between the cutterwheel and the toothed portion of the cone or 3,129,509 Patented Apr. 21,1964 thrust wheel and additionally the said toothed cone or thrust wheelis urged toward the cutter wheel by reason of its engagement with theoverlying cone or thrust wheel which is integral with the cutter wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge actionconstruction employing a smooth periphery can supporting wheel inconjunction with a toothed coaxial cone or thrust wheel therewithwherein the said smooth periphery can supporting wheel is resilientlybut yieldably urged toward the cutter wheel and this action is notdependent on the bearings of the cutter wheel or the can supportingwheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge action can openerconstruction as above described in which the cone or thrust wheelcoaxial with the can feed wheel serves additionally as a can guidingwheel. This modification is employed with a toothed can feed wheel asopposed to the abovedescribed smooth periphery can feed or supportingwheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a variety of improvedwedge action can opener constructions as described above wherein all endthrust in the bearings of the cutter wheel is eliminated whereby to notonly assure greater ease of operation in the can opener, but also toassure and insure rotation of the cutter wheel under all conditions ofoperation by virtue of reduced friction in the bearings thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a variety of improvedwedge action type can openers wherein all end thrust in the bearings ofthe can feed wheel is eliminated, at least in those constructionswherein the axis of the said can feed wheel parallels the axis of thecutter wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of wedgeaction type can opener constructions in which the axes of the cutterwheel assembly and the feed wheel assembly may be paralleled with oneanother or canted with respect to one another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of improvedwedge action type constructions of the type set forth previously whereineither the can feed wheel or the thrust cone or Wheel associatedtherewith may be toothed, or both, whereby to achieve improved resultsin can control in the can opener and improved opening and grippingaction.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and areto be read in conjunction therewith, embodiments of the invention areshown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicatelike parts.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hand-operated can opener employing oneof the instant improved wedge action constructions.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken in a plane extendingvertically through the axes of the cutter wheel and the can feed wheelof a rst embodiment of the can opener, showing the positions of thevarious parts of the wedge action constructions when a can is engaged inthe can opener and in the process of being opened.

FIG. 3 is a three-quarter perspective view of a sleeve and a drivingwasher which, in each of the constructions of FIGS. 2, 4-6 and 8-9,inclusive, are employed pressed into the can guiding wheel.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a can opener, taken from the right in FIG. l,of a variation on the embodiment of the subject invention shown in FIGS.1-3, the View showing the position of the various parts while a can isengaged in the opener and being opened, this variation differing fromthe construction of FIG. 2 only in that the axis of the can feed wheelin FIG. 4 parallels the axis of the can cutter wheel and the can feedwheel and can guiding wheel associated therewith are positioned at amuch greater angle in relation to the side wall of an engaged can.

FIG. 5 is a view like that of FIG. 4 but showing a second modificationof the instant invention, with parts cut away to better illustrate theinventive construction, also with the positions of the various partswhen in engagement with a can and opening of the same. Unlike thestructure of FIG. 4, the axis of the feed wheel of the presentmodification does not parallel that of the cutter wheel.

FIG. 6 is a view like those of FIGS. 4 and 5 showing a variation of thesecond modification of the invention, with portions thereof cut away forbetter illustration of the construction, differing from the constructionof FIG. 5 only in that the axis of the feed wheel parallels that of thecutter wheel whereby the can supporting wheel and feed wheel coaxialtherewith engage at a much greater angle the side wall of a can.

FIG. 7 is a view of the types of FIGS. 5 and 6 but illustrating a thirdmodification of the instant invention, the feed wheel assembly sectionedfor greater clarity, the parts of the opener in those positions takenwhen a can is engaged and in the process of being opened.

FIG. 8 is a view analogous to those of FIGS. 4-7, inclusive, the feedwheel assembly being sectioned to better illustrate the construction,illustrating a fourth modification combining the features of FIGS.` 2and 5, in that both elements of the can feed assembly are toothed,whereby each said element engages and simultaneously feeds an engagedcan.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view of an alternate can feed Wheel, generallycorresponding to the wheels of FIGS. 5, 6, 7 or S when viewed from theleft, except that the teeth of this alternate feed wheel are angled insuch manner as to not be truly radial with respect to the axis of saidwheel.

FIGS. 1-3 Structure Referring particularly to FlGS. 1-3 wherein isillustrated a first embodiment of the instant invention, uppersupporting member 21 and lower supporting member 22 are hinged togetherat one end thereof by pin which engages mating portion 21a with portions22a and 22d by openings therethrough (not shown). Holding handles 2lband 22h are provided on the nonhinged ends of supporting members 21 and22 in such manner that the said supporting members may be pivoted towardand away from one another by motion of one or both of the holdinghandles. It is considered that holding handles 2lb and 2217 are ofsufiicient length and strength to afford sucient leverage to enable theuser of the can opener to force the cutter wheel to be described throughthe end of a can without undue effort.

In lieu of being a pair of holding handles, one of the members 2l or 22could be a support extending from a wall or other vertical surface withthe other member pivoted with respect to the first described member. lnsuch case, suitable conventional leverage and mechanism such as may beseen in my Patent No. 3,010,203, issued November 28, 1961; No.2,879,590, issued March 3l, 1959; No. 2,814,103, issued November 26,1957, or the patent to H. I. Talge et al. No. 2,694,855, issued November23, 1954, or any other suitable conventional mechanism and leverage mustbe provided for moving one member toward the other and maintaining itsubstantially in the position illustrated in FG. 2 under suitable springload which would simulate the pressure resulting from manually grippinga pair of hinged holding handles having suitable leverage. It should beemphasized that the details or precise arrangement of the members 21 and22 and the means for urging one toward the other under suitable springload or the lever means employed' for accomplishing all this form nopart of the instant invention. Accordingly, the invention will bedescribed in respect to the construction illustrated, namely, the twosupporting members hinged at one end with a pair of gripping handles atthe other ends thereof.

Pressed into an opening 21C in one face of supporting member 21 isbushing 23, knurled on the outside surface thereof, which serves as oneof the bearings for aiirst shaft 24. Bracket 26 is secured to the uppersurface of member 21 by screws 25 or other suitable conventional means.Bracket 26 has an opening 26a in the downwardly curved free end thereofopposing the member 21 side face carrying opening 21C whereby to receivethe free end of shaft 24 and serve as a bearing for the other journal ofshaft 24. Cutter wheel 27 is mounted on shaft 24 adjacent the free endof bracket 26, while cone or thrust wheel 28 is also mounted on shaft 24adjacent member, 21. Shaft 24 thus has inner journal 29 received inbushing 23 and outer journal 3i) received in opening 26a of bracket 26.A cylindrical band or shelf 31 is formed on shaft 24 outboard of cutter27 whereby to limit the longitudinal movement of shaft 24 toward thefree end of bracket 26 or to the left in FIG. 2. A curved spring washer32. is telescoped over inner journal 29 and is interposed between cone28 and bushing 23 at all times. This washer urges, with a relativelylight pressure, shaft 2.4 to the left in FIG. 2 whereby to tend to seatshelf 3f against the free end of bracket 26.

C designates a can (only a portion shown) that has been engaged in thecan opener, the illustration showing the can top as it would appearafter the can end had been completely severed therefrom, whereby thesheared top or remaining edge thereof has been rolled down by the actionof the can opener parallel with the side wall portion of the can bymeans of the shearing operation.

Referring to lower suporting member 22, knurled bushings 33 and 34 arepressed into the opposed ends of a passage 22C communicating between theside walls of member 22 whereby to serve as bearings receiving can feedWheel drive shaft 35. Bushings 33 and 34 are provided with flanges 36and 37, respectively. Shaft 35 is preferably cast in operating crank orhandle 3S, the outer or free end of handle 3S being provided with asuitable knob 33a to be grasped by the hand of the user.

Can feed Wheel 40 has an internally threaded passage lila axiallythereof which is threadedly engaged with lesser outer diameterexternally threaded portion 35a of shaft 35, The periphery of feed wheel40 is toothed as seen at 4%. Combination cone and can guiding wheel 39is received on the full outer diameter portion of shaft 35 by means of apassage 39a in one end thereof and has greater internal diameter passage39h next passage 39a leading into a pie-shaped recess 39e at the otherend thereof.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, drive sleeve 41 comprises ahollow cylindrical sleeve having diametrically opposed slots 42 formedtherein running parallel to the axis of the sleeve. Driving washer 44comprises a ring-shaped member having diametrically opposed keys 43thereon so sized as to it into slots 42. In assembly of the feed wheel4d and cone 39 on shaft 35, keys 43 of washer 44 are first slid intoslots 42 of sleeve 41. Thereafter, sleeve 41 is pressed into wheel 39 asseen in FIG. 2. Wheel 39 is then installed on drive shaft 35, washer 44being telescoped over the reduced diameter externally threaded portion35a of shaft 35 until it seats against the shoulder of the greaterdiameter portion of shaft 35. A curved spring washer 45 is thentelescoped over the hub portion 46c of feed Wheel 40, following whichfeed wheel 40 is threaded onto portion 35a of shaft 35 and securelytightened thereon. The internal diameter of sleeve 41 is sufficientlygreat to permit the external portion of the. hub portion 40e to passtherethrough and abut with the: free end thereof washer 44 which slideswithin sleeve 41.. Thus the feed wheel hub 40C free end tightens washer44 between itself and the shoulder end of shaft 35 with the keys 43remaining free in slots 42 of sleeve 41.

After the above-described assembly, sleeve 41 may slide freelylongitudinally to and fro on the hub portion 46c of feed wheel 4t),while the inner end of cone 39 as represented by the portion containingpassage 39a is free to slide longitudinally to and fro on the shaft 35.Curved spring Washer 45, which exerts relatively light pressure, urgesthe inner end of crank 38 at all times toward a seat against ange 37 ofbushing 34. This same pressure urges feed wheel 40 toward a position inwhich it extends a maximum distance out of can guiding wheel 39 (cone),this maximum distance position existing when crank 38 seats against ange37 of bushing 34.

Further, when a can is not engaged in the can opener, the pressure ofwasher 45 maintains cone or guiding wheel 39 seated against frange 36 ofbushing 33 while additionally maintaining or tending to maintain crank38 seated against flange 37 of bushing 34.

The outer end (that portion defining pie-shaped recess 39e) of guidingwheel or cone 39 bears against the rim or flange of the can and, asillustrated, is preferably of substantially greater diameter than thatof the can feed wheel. This outer end is preferably provided with aradius contour 46. These relationships operate to maintain an engagedcan in the most desired position whereby to provide most efficientcutting by the cutter wheel and most eicient feeding by the can feedwheel. This most efficient position is that in which the longitudinalaxis of the can is substantially intersecting and normal to the axis ofthe can feed wheel.

Can rest 47 is secured to the under side of member 22 by screws 48 orother suitable means and operates to maintain the side wall of anengaged can at a predetermined, selected angle with respect to the outerface or free end of the can feed wheel 40.

FIGS. 1-3 Operation In operation of the construction shown in FIGS. 1 3,when a can is not engaged in the can opener, spring washer 32 urgesfirst shaft 24 to the left in FIG. 2 in its bearings whereby shelf 31tends to seat or seats against the free end of bracket 26. Likewise,spring Washer 45 urges feed wheel 40 to the left in the view of FIG. 2until the inner end of operating crank 3S seats against fiange 37 ofbushing 34. With the parts in such described position, the lateralspacing between the free end of feed wheel 40 and the opposing portionof cutter wheel 27 must be such as to permit the insertion of the canrim therebetween whereby feed wheel 4? will engage the under edge of therim or flange of the can and the cutter wheel 27 will contact the cantop immediately inside the same rim. This relationship permits andprovides for efficient piercing of the end of the can by cutter wheel 27when feed wheel 46 is elevated to the position illustrated in FIG. 2with respect to cutter wheel 27. Obviously, in lieu of the describedelevation, cutter wheel 27 may be lowered to the illustrated positionwith respect to feed wheel 4t) to accomplish the same results. Or, yetalternatively, both wheels may be moved with respect to each other toachieve the same result.

In the particular hand operated can opener mechanism illustrated, withmember 21 the upper of a pair of holding handles and member 22 the lowerof same and members 21 and 22 hinged together at a point spaced from thetwo shafts 24 and 35, the am's of the hinge is provided in a horizontalplane substantially the same as that of the uppermost point of theperiphery of the feed wheel 40 and also paralleling the axis of the feedwheel drive shaft 35. The user grasps holding handles 2lb and 22h andmoves them together thereby providing the leverage which moves feedwheel 4G and cutter wheel 27 together to effect piercing of the end ofthe can by the cutter wheel.

Either as the end of the can is being pierced by cutter wheel 27 or uponinitial rotation of can feed wheel thereafter as driven by the motion ofthe can top thereunder upon actuation of handle 38 by the user, theconverging of the shafts 24 and 35 causes shaft 24 to move to the rightin the View of FIG. 2 to approximately the illustrated position againstthe relatively light pressure of spring washer 32. Such longitudinaltranslation of shaft 24, by means of force exerted through the side wallof the engaged can, also moves feed wheel 40 to the right in the View ofFIG. 2 against the relatively light pressure of spring washer 45 toapproximately the illustrated position. Further longitudinal movement offeed wheel 40 is prevented by engagement of the rim or flange of the canwith the guiding periphery 46 of cone or guide wheel 39. This guidingperiphery 46 of wheel 39 engages the rim or flange of the can at twopoints which are equidistant, fore and aft, of a vertical line extendingthrough the axes of the cutter wheel 27 and feed wheel 40.

After the end of the cam has been pierced by cutter wheel 27 as theresult of the initial squeezing of holding handles 2lb and 22b by theuser, the user continues to squeeze the pair of holding handlestogether. While continuing this squeezing action, he then rotates theoperating crank 3S to effect feeding of the can with relationship tocutter wheel 27 to effect cutting of the end of the can by the cutterwheel. The initial movement of shaft 24 to the right in FIG. 2 uponengagement of the can was caused by the contact of the bevelled Surfacesof rst cone 28 and second cone 39. Also as previously noted, thismovement to the right of shaft 24 was translated to feed wheel 4t)through the side wall of the cam by cutter wheel 27 whereby feed wheel40 moved against the action of spring washer 45 toward the pie-shapedrecess 39C of cone 39. This action, namely, the exertion of thrust onfirst cone 28 from second cone 39 with resultant thrust exerted on feedwheel 40 by cutter wheel 27 through the can side wall continues to beexerted as the user continues to press the handles 2lb and 22!)together. The relative longitudinal thrust imparted to shaft 24 may bevaried by varying the angle of bevel of first and second cones 28 and39. When the base of upper supporting member 21 carrying opening 21C tomount shaft 2d is angled as seen in FIG. 2, a greater angle of bevel maybe employed on rst cone 28 relative to a lesser angle of bevel on cone39 whereby to achieve a greater thrust along the axis of shaft 24 thanin the case where the face of member 2l was not canted and the coneangles were in each case equal to the cone 39 angle in FIG. 2. At anyrate, however, the relative quantity of thrust along the line of shaft24 is achieved, the total longitudinal urging of shaft 24, as the canend is being sheared, should be only slightly greater than the amount offorce required to firmly maintain the rim or flange of the can seatedagainst the guiding periphery 46 of second cone or can guiding wheel 39.

The can guiding arrangement is preferably such as t0 maintain an engagedcan of any diameter in a position in which the longitudinal axis thereofis substantially normal to the axis of feed wheel 49, which position isthat one effecting most efficient shearing of the end of the can by thecutter wheel and most efiicient feeding of the can by feed wheel 46 inrespect to cutter wheel 27. When a can is maintained in such position,the downward thrust resulting from resistance of the end of the can toshearing by the cutter wheel is approximately sufficient to provideadequate traction of the teeth 4b of feed wheel 40 with the under edgeof the can rim for eflicient feeding of the can by feed wheel 40. Inaddition, feeding of the can by feed wheel 40 is also supplemented bythe frictional drive resulting from lateral wedging of the can rimbetween cutter wheel 27 and the outer periphery 46 of can guide wheel orcone 39.

The usual can guide (not shown) as seen at 2) in FIGS. 2 and 3 of myPatent 2,879,590, supra, for preventing tilting of the can while the endis being sheared therefrom, may be secured to member 21 whereby toextend over the can rim of an engaged can fore and aft of the cutterwheel 27. Can rest 47 maintains the engaged can side wall at apredetermined angle in relation to the free end of feed wheel 4t) formost eflicient feeding of the can.

Pressure of spring washer 45 is such as to maintain feed wheel 40 firmlyseated under the lower edge of the can rim, but permits the thickenedside seam portion of the can to pass between the overlapping portions offeed wheel 4t) and cutter wheel 27 without difficulty.

Although the hub portion of feed wheel 46 is free to move longitudinallythrough sleeve 4l (which is securely pressed into can guiding wheel 39)and can feed drive shaft 35 is free to move longitudinally throughsecond cone 39, cone 39 is positively rotated in unison with drive shaft35 through the connection provided by driving washer 44 in sleeve 4l.

After the end of an engaged can has been pierced by cutter wheel 27, themaintenance of can feed wheel 4th under the rim of the can is notdependent on the maintenance of any preselected fixed lateral spacingbetween the free end of feed wheel 4i? and the adjacent overlappingportion of cutter wheel 27 through the bearings of shafts 24 and 35,but, instead, the side wall portion of the can is firmly wedged betweenthe free end of feed wheel 4t) and the adjacent overlapping portion ofcutter wheel 27 at all times. This assures maintenance of feed wheel 4l)under the rim of the can at all times for most eflicient feeding of thecan irrespective of the tit had in the bearings of the cutter wheelcarrying shaft 24 and the can feed wheel carrying shaft 35.

Inasmuch as cone 39 has exceptionally good alignment with the axis offeed wheel 4t), and since an engaged can of any diameter is maintainedin such position that the axis thereof is substantially normal to theaxis of the feed wheel 4t?, any can is not permitted to cant from theposition affording maximum feeding elciency. With respect to this point,the advantages of maintaining an engaged can in such position withrespect to the axis of the feed wheel 4d probably can best be understoodby contrasting same with the disadvantages experienced with meansemployed in conventional can openers wherein a can guide for the rim orflange of the can to seat laterally against is xedly positionedlaterally in respect to the face or end of the can feed wheel, but aheadof the periphery of the cutter wheel.

At best, the latter arrangement must be a compromise, inasmuch as it isnot possible to laterally position such a ixedly positioned can guidewhere it will operate correctly for cans of diameters other than asingle selected diameter. Thus, for example, when this guide ispositioned correctly for a can having a substantially intermediatediameter, one result is that a can of lesser diameter is permitted tocant in such manner that the axis thereof will be ahead of the axis ofthe can feed wheel with the result that the can feed wheel is crampedinto the side wall of the can. This results in decreased feedingemciency. Additionally, such canting of lesser diameter cans permits theside wall portion of the can adjacent the point of shearing by thecutter wheel to cant away from this point, thereby causing shearing totake place sufficiently remote from the side wall of the can thatabsence of proper support of the end by the side wall of the can resultsin a spongy, inefficient cutting action, actually resulting in skippingof the cutting action in aggravated cases. This means that the cutterwheel merely rolls on the end of the can and does not penetratetherethrough.

Yet further, and conversely, when positioned correctly for a can havingsubstantially an intermediate diameter, the conventional can guidereferred to causes a can of relatively greater diameter to be canted insuch manner that the axis thereof is beyond the axis of the feed wheel,with the result that the can feed wheel is maintained at such tangencywith respect to the rim of the can that it tends to escape from underthe can rim, thereby resulting in decreased feeding efficiency or evenfailure to feed in aggravated cases. Likewise, such canting of greaterdiameter cans cramps the side wall portion of the can adjacent the pointof cutting by the cutter wheel against the cutter wheel at the point ofcutting, thereby causing cutting to take place at a point too near therim of the can. This results in scraping i.e., the excessive productionof slivers, as well as requiring additional and unnecessary torque forrotating the can feed wheel. Also, a can feed wheel which has adequatetraction and eiciently feeds a can which is properly aligned withrespect to the can feed wheel and cutter wheel, can fail to feed a canwhen same is so improperly aligned as to require appreciably more torqueon the can feed wheel.

To turn to another advantage of the construction of FIGS. 1 3, it shouldbe noted that, whenever the cutter wheel shaft 24 is being rotated,there is no end thrust whatsoever in the bearings of said shaft. Thisfact, together with the fact that the journals of said shaft 24 are ofrelatively small diameter, minimizes friction which tends to impederotation of the cutter wheel, thus contributing to assurance that thecutter wheel will always rotate when intended. Additionally, thefrictional driving imparted to shaft 24 by the wedging of the can rimand second cone 39 between cutter 27 and first cone 2S tied theretoprovides additional assurance that cutter wheel 27 will always rotatewhen intended.

After the end has been completely cut from the can, the can -is releasedfrom the can opener by separating the can feed wheel, vertically, fromthe cutter wheel the required amount by separating handles 2lb and 22b.The amount of are which may separate the handles 2lb and 22h may becontrolled or limited by means of shelf 21d above and outside ofengaging portion 21a of member 21 which will abut against the left-handend of member 22 in FIG. 1 upon suicient separation of handles 2lb and22h.

FIG. 4

Referring to FlG. 4, therein is shown a construction identical to thatof FlG. 2 with certain exceptions which will be listed. A firstexception is that the axis of the cutter wheel carrying shaft 24parallels the axis of the feed wheel shaft 3S. (in FIG. 4, all partscorresponding to like parts in FIG. 2 are numbered the same, butprimed.) This is achieved by having the face of member 21 which mountsthe shaft 24' made parallel to the face of the member 22' which carriesthe feed wheelsecond cone combination thereon. Additionally, the canfeed wheel dil is preferably provided with double bevelling at itsperiphery as seen at 49 and 50. The teeth 4Gb', however, may be machinedparallel with the axis of the feed wheel 4d', as also shown.

Due to the greater angle between the side wall of an engaged can C andthe guiding periphery 46 of second cone 39', some downward thrust isimparted to the rim or ange of the can by said guiding periphery 46 ofsecond cone 35V. Such downward thrust supplements the downward thrustimparted by cutter wheel 27 to the can end, whereby to provide adequatetraction of teeth 4% of feed wheel 4G' with the under edge of the canrim for efficient feeding of the can.

It should be additionally observed in this embodiment, that there is noend thrust in the bearings of either the cutter wheel carrying shaft orthe can feed wheel carrying shaft while these elements are being rotatedand a can is engaged in the device. Except as above recited, structureand operation of the modified device of FIGS. 1-3, as seen in FIG. 4,are precisely the same as that of the previously-described FlGS. l-3construction.

Referring to FG. 5, again, parts like the parts in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive,are numbered the same, but double primed. The differences between thismodification and the first construction as seen in its two variations inFIGS. 2 and 4 may be essentially comprised in (l) the provision of asmooth periphery can feed wheel 4t?" (here a can supporting wheel) and(2) the provision of feeding teeth 45a on the beveled end 46" of thecone or thrust wheel 39". These teeth engage with the rim or flange of acan,

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it will be seen that the outer face teethof the can guide and feed wheels 39", 39"' and 390, respectively, extendradially from the axis of said wheels. FIG. 9 shows how the teeth of anyof these three can be angled in such manner that counterclockwiserotation of the can guide and feed wheels (toothed), when viewed as inFIG. 1, will not only feed the engaged can with respect to the cutterwheel, but will impart an upward thrust to the rim or ange of the can.Although the angularity for these teeth can be varied somewhat, it wouldbe preferable that the angularity selected be such as will result in aminimum downward thrust of the rim or flange of the can on theunderlying can supporting Wheel (which thrust is caused by resistance ofthe end of the can to cutting by the cutter Wheel), but not suicient asto prevent the rim or flange of the can from seating at all times on thesaid underlying can supporting wheel. Angling of the teeth of the canfeed wheel for such purpose has been taught in my prior U.S. Patent No.2,386,490, issued October 9, 1945. However, in the can opener disclosedin that patent, the axis of the can feed wheel substantially parallelsthe axis of a can engaged therein.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention 1s one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a can opener of the rotary drive wheel type, a first bearing meanscarried by a first can opener body portion, a first shaft carried by thefirst bearing means, a disc cutter carried on said first shaft in spacedrelationship to the first bearing means, a first cone on the first shaftslightly spaced from the disc cutter and between it and the said firstcan opener body portion, a second bearing means carried by a second canopener body portion, a second shaft rotatably carried by the secondbearing means, the second shaft having a slight longitudinal play in itsbearing means, a cam rim engaging wheel carried on one end of the secondshaft adjacent to the disc cutter, a second cone on the second shaftcoaxial with and adjacent the can rim engaging wheel and between it andthe second can opener body portion, the first and second cones havingtheir cone faces oppositely disposed whereby to be engageable with oneanother when the first and second bearing means are adjacent oneanother, at least one of the bearing means movable toward and away fromthe other to permit insertion of a can rim between the Wheel and cutter,and means for moving at least one of said bearing means relative to theother and engaging and disengaging a can rim between the disc cutter andcan rim engaging wheel and the first and second cones with one another,the second cone positioned next to the can rim engaging wheel andnormally receiving at least a portion of same in a recess in the facethereof.

2. Apparatus as in claim l wherein a first of said bearings in saidfirst bearing means is on the can opener body portion and a second is ona bracket fixed thereto with the disc cutter adjacent the bracketbearing and the cone adjacent the body bearing, and spring means betweenthe cone and can opener body portion adjacent thereto tending to forcethe disc cutter toward the bracket bearing.

3. In a can `opener of the rotary drive wheel type, a first bearingmeans carried by a first can opener body portion, a first shaft carriedby the first bearing means, a disc cutter carried on said first shaft inspaced relationship to the first bearing means, a first cone on thefirst bearing means, a first cone on the first shaft slightly spacedfrom the disc cutter and between it and the said first can opener bodyportion, a second bearing means carried by a second can opener bodyportion, a second shaft rotatably carried by the second bearing means,the second shaft having a slight longitudinal play in its bearing means,a can rim engaging wheel carried on one end of the second shaft adjacentto the disc cutter, a second cone on the second shaft coaxial with andadjacent the can rim engaging wheel and between it and the second canopener body portion, the first and second Cones having their cone facesoppositely disposed whereby to be engageable with one another when thefirst and second bearing means are adjacent one another, at least one ofthe bearing means movable toward and away from the other to permitinsertion of a can rim between the wheel and cutter, and means formoving at least one of said bearing means relative to the other andengaging and disengaging a can rim between the disc cutter and can rimengaging wheel and the first and second cones with one another, thesecond shaft having an externally threaded reduced diameter portionthereof at the end thereof mounting the second cone and the can rimengaging wheel, the second cone slidably mounted on the second shaftbetween the can rim engaging wheel and the second bearing means, the canrim engaging wheel threaded on the lesser diameter portion of the secondshaft, the second cone having a recess in the larger diameter facethereof next the can rim engaging wheel to receive at least a portion ofthe same and resilient means positioned between the can rim engagingwheel and the second cone to tend to separate same.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the second cone, although slidablymounted on said second shaft, is provided with means cooperating betweenit and the said second shaft that cause the said second cone to bepositively driven or rotated by, and in unison with, the said secondshaft.

5. In a can opener of the rotary drive wheel type, a first bearing meanscarried by a first can opener body portion, a first shaft carried by thefirst bearing means, a disc cutter carried on said first shaft in spacedrelationship to the first bearing means, a rst cone on the rst shaftslightly spaced from the disc cutter and between it and the said firstcan opener body portion, a second bearing means carried by a second canopener body portion, a second shaft rotatably carried by the secondbearing means, the second shaft having a slight longitudinal play in itsbearing means, a can rim engaging wheel carried on one end of the secondshaft adjacent to the disc cutter, a second cone on the second shaftcoaxial with and adjacent the can rim engaging wheel and between it andthe second can opener body portion, the first and second cones havingtheir cone faces oppositely disposed whereby to be engageable with oneanother when the first and second bearing means are adjacent oneanother, at least one of the bearing means movable toward and away fromthe other to permit insertion of a can rim between the wheel and cutter,and means for moving at least one of said bearing means relative to theother and engaging and disengaging a can rim between the disc cutter andcan rim engaging wheel and the first and second cones with one another,the greatest circumference of the second cone wheel substantiallygreater than that of the can feed wheel and the said greatestcircumference of the said second cone wheel, when a can is engaged inthe can opener, engaging the rim or fiange of the can at equidistantpoints fore and aft of the axis of the disc cutter and the axis of thecan feed wheel.

6. In a can opener of the rotary drive wheel type, a first bearing meanscarried by a first can opener body portion, a first shaft carried by thefirst bearing means,

9 'substantially on the side thereof, as seen in FIG. 5. The samedriving connection is employed between the can feed Wheel drive shaft35" and the can thrust and feed Wheel 39" as is employed between thedrive shaft 35 and the thrust wheel 39 of FIG. 2.

FIG.

Referring to operation of the second embodiment as seen in FIG. 5, whena can is not engaged in the can opener, cutter wheel shaft 24 assumes aposition in which ledge 3l seats longitudinally against bracket end 26a.Can supporting wheel 40 extends slightly further out of the can feedwheel 39 than is shown in FIG. 5, longitudinal movement of wheel 4Qbeing limited in the same manner as longitudinal movement of the feedwheel all of FIG. 2. In this position, then, the lateral spacing betweenthe end of the can supporting wheel All and the adjacent portion ofcutter wheel 27" will be such as to permit proper engagement ofsupporting wheel 4G under the under edge of the can rim or flange andalso for efficient piercing of the end of the can by cutter wheel 27when the supporting wheel 40 is elevated to approximately theillustrated position with respect to said cutter wheel Z.

As soon as the can feed wheel 39 and cone or thrust Wheel 23 are broughttogether under pressure the rim or flange of the engaged can will belaterally squeezed between cutter wheel Z7 and the toothed beveledsurface 46a of feed wheel 39". Against the relatively light pressure ofspring washer 45", this wedging action moves can supporting wheel ditfurther into the can feed wheel 39" until the parts are approximately inthe positions illustrated. This slight longitudinal movement permitsportion 3l of cutter Wheel shaft 24 to unseat from against thesupporting bracket, thereby positioning the cutter wheel assembly insuch manner that there will be no end thrust in its shaft mountingbearings at any time while it is rotating. Pressure of spring washer 55firmly maintains can supporting wheel du" under the under edge of therim or flange of the can.

The cone or thrust Wheel 28 and the cooperating cone portion of can feedwheel 39 are preferably bevelled at such angle that the predeterminedpressure urging them together will provide a proper wedging of the rimor flange of the can between cutter wheel 27" and the teeth of can feedwheel 39" for most ecient feeding of the can and also for maintainingthe can in good alignment for most efficient feeding thereof and yetalso for most efficient shearing of the end of the can by cutter wheel27". Can rest 47" maintains the side wall of the can at thepredetermined angle of relation to the face or end of the can supportingwheel 40".

FIG. 6

Referring to FIG. 6, wherein is shown a variation of the secondembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, it will be seen that this variation issubstantially the same as the second embodiment with the exception thatthe axis of the can supporting Wheel and can feed Wheel parallels thatof the cutter wheel. This results in the can supporting wheel and canfeed wheel being positioned at a much greater angle in relation to theside wall of an engaged can than in function of the FIG. 5 showing.Parts the same between the structures or embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 2are numbered the same but triple primed in the latter.

Can supporting wheel 49" is preferably provided with double bevelling onits periphery as shown at 51 and 52.

It may be observed that, in this embodiment, there is no end thrust inthe bearings of either the cutter wheel mounting shaft or can feed wheelmounting shaft while these elements are being rotated and a can isengaged in the device.

Can rest 47" operates to maintain the side wall of the can at thepredetermined angle in relation to the face or end of the can supportingwheel 40"'.

itl Except as above recited, operation of this variation of the secondembodiment of the invention is the same as that of the said secondembodiment.

FIG. 7

With reference to FIG. 7, showing a third embodiment of the inventiveconstruction, a reversal in the mounting of the cone thrust and feedWheel and the can supporting wheel is achieved. In this view, partssimilar to those in FIG. 2 are numbered the same but in the hundredseries.

Thus, on mounting shaft 350 received at one end in bearing 360,externally threaded lesser diameter portion 350d is provided of butlimited length with a yet lesser diameter nonexternally threaded portion53 provided outwardly thereof with retaining washer 54 threaded into andinternally recessed in the end thereof (not shown) or attached theretoby spinning or other conventional means. The cone thrust and feed wheel390 is threaded onto the shaft portion 3500,', against the shoulder ofshaft 350, by an internally threaded portion 394m and has a relativelydeep recess 390C to receive the can supporting wheel 400, which isslidably mounted on the smooth shaft portion 53. A coil spring S5resiliently biases the can supporting wheel 4th) relative to the conethrust and feed wheel 390. Thus can supporting wheel 400 has itslongitudinal movement into the can feed wheel 390 limited by engagementof its hub portion with the said can feed wheel 390 and its longitudinalmovement out of the can feed Wheel 390 limited by engagement withretaining washer S4.

Operation of this modification is substantially the same as theoperation of the construction shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a fourth embodiment, broadlyanalogous to those of FIGS. 4-7, inclusive, and generally correspondingto FIG. 5, but providing teeth on the can supporting wheel in additionto teeth on the cone thrust and feed wheel. All of the parts similar tothose in FIG. 2 are numbered the same, but in the hundred series andprimed. Additionally, there are provided the teeth 460a on the bevelledportion 460 of the can guide or cone thrust Wheel 390. This constructionprovides for simultaneous feeding of the engaged can by the feed wheel400 having teeth 400b for engagement with the under edge or rim of theflange of the can and by the can guide wheel 390 having teeth 460e forengagement with the side of the rim or flange of the can.

It should be understood that the exact form and angle of the conicalportion of the cutter wheel that overlaps either the can feed wheel orcan supporting wheel, in any form of the invention, when a can isengaged in the can opener, is not limited to the form and angleillustrated, but may be formed and angled as desired. Accordingly, forexample, it should be understood that one other form of cutter wheelcould be that illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of my U.S. Patent No.2,644,228, issued July 7, 1953.

FIG. 9

FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view of the can feed wheel 400 and can guideand feed wheel 390 showing the teeth of each member with the teeth 460a'of the can guide and feed wheel angled in such manner that they are notaligned with the true radius extending from the axis of the can feedwheel 400'.

Except for the additional feeding eiliciency adorded by the teeth on theouter face of the can guide and feed wheel 390', operation of theconstruction shown in FIG. 8 is essentially the same as describedrelative to FIGS. 2 and 5.

It is evident that the double bevelled can feed Wheel 40 of FIG. 4 canbe substituted for the can supporting wheel 40 of FIG. 6, therebyproviding a second feed Wheel for such structure in the same manner asillustrated in FIG. 8.

a disc cutter carried on said first shaft in spaced relationship to thefirst bearing means, a first cone on the first shaft slightly spacedfrom the disc cutter and between it and the said first can opener bodyportion, a second bearing means carried by a second can opener bodyportion, a second shaft rotatably carried by the second bearing means,the second shaft having a slight longitudinal play in its bearing means,a can rim engaging wheel carried on one end of the second shaft adjacentto the disc cutter, a second cone on the second shaft coaxial with andadjacent the can rim engaging wheel and between it and the second canopener body portion, the first and second cones having their cone facesoppositely disposed whereby to be engageable with one another when thefirst and second bearing means are adjacent one another, at least one ofthe bearing means movable toward and away from the other to permitinsertion of a can rim between the wheel and cutter, and means formoving at least one of said bearing means relative to the other andengaging and disengaging a can rim between the disc cutter and can rimengaging wheel and the first and second cones with one another, the axisof the disc cutter shaft substantially paralleling the axis of the feedwheel shaft in such manner that the greatest circumference of the secondcone wheel engages the rim or ange of the engaged can at its top edgeand at such angle fore and aft of the axis of the disc cutter and axisof the can feed wheel as to impart some downward thrust on the said rimor flange of the can.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the face of the second cone away fromthe second bearing is toothed and the same overlies and iscircumferential to the can rim engaging wheel.

8. Apparatus as in claim l wherein the radial periphery of the can rimengaging wheel is toothed and the face of the second cone away from thesecond bearing is toothed and the same overlies and is circumferentialto the can rim engaging wheel.

9. ln a can opener of the rotary drive wheel type, a first bearing meanscarried by a first can opener body portion, a first shaft carried by thefirst bearing means, a disc cutter carried on said first shaft in spacedrelationship to the first bearing means, a first cone on the first shaftslightly spaced from the disc cutter and between it and the said firstcan opener body portion, a second bearing means carried by a second canopener body portion, a second shaft rotatably carried by the secondbearing means, the second shaft having a slight longitudinal play in itsbearing means, a can rim engaging wheel carried on one end of the secondshaft adjacent to the disc cutter, a second cone on the second shaftcoaxial with and adjacent the can rim engaging wheel and between it andthe second can opener body portion, the first and second cones havingtheir cone faces oppositely disposed whereby to be engageable with oneanother when the first and second bearing means are adjacent oneanother, at least one of the bearing means movable toward and away fromthe other to permit insertion of a can rim between the wheel and cutter,and means for moving at least one of said bearing means relative to theother and engaging and disengaging a can rim between the disc cutter andcan rim engaging wheel and the first and second cones with one another,the inner and outer edges of the can rim engaging wheel are beveled andthe face of the second cone away from the second bearing is toothed andthe same overlies and is circumferential to the can rim engaging wheeland also is beveled.

1t). In a can opener of the rotary drive wheel type, a first bearingmeans carried by a first can opener body portion, a first shaft carriedby the first bearing means, a disc cutter carried on said first shaft inspaced relationship to the first bearing means, a rst cone on the firstshaft slightly spaced from the disc cutter and between it and the saidfirst can opener body portion, a second bearing means carried by asecond can opener body portion, a second shaft rotatably carried by thesecond bearing means, the second shaft having a slight longitudinal playin its bearing means, a can rim engaging wheel carried on one end of thesecond shaft adjacent to the disc cutter, a second cone on the secondshaft coaxial with and adjacent the can rim engaging wheel and betweenit and the second can opener body portion, the rst and second coneshaving their cone faces oppositely disposed whereby to be engageablewith one another when the first and second bearings are ladjacent oneanother, at least one of the bearing means movable toward and away nomthe other to permit insertion of a can rim between the wheel and cutter,and means for moving at least one of said bearing means relative to theother and engaging and disengaging a can rim between the disc cutter andcan rim engaging wheel and the first and second cones with one another,the second shaft having a relatively short externally threaded reduceddiameter portion thereof adjacent the end thereof mounting the secondcone and the can rim engaging wheel with a yet lesser diameter portion,not externally threaded outwardly thereof, the second cone threaded ontothe said externally threaded reduced diameter portion, the can rimengaging wheel slidably mounted on the yet lesser diameter nonexternallythreaded portion, stop means provided to retain the can rim engagingwheel thereon, and spring means provided between the can rim engagingwheel and the second cone, the latter having a recess therein to receiveat least a portion of the said can rim engaging wheel.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the edges of the can rim engagingwheel are beveled, and the outwardly extending face of the said secondcone is both beveled and toothed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,592,934 McLean Apr. '15, 1952 2,592,937 McLean Apr. 15, 1952 2,866,263McLean Dec. 30, 1958

1. IN A CAN OPENER OF THE ROTARY DRIVE WHEEL TYPE, A FIRST BEARING MEANSCARRIED BY A FIRST CAN OPENER BODY PORTION, A FIRST SHAFT CARRIED BY THEFIRST BEARING MEANS, A DISC CUTTER CARRIED ON SAID FIRST SHAFT IN SPACEDRELATIONSHIP TO THE FIRST BEARING MEANS, A FIRST CONE ON THE FIRST SHAFTSLIGHTLY SPACED FROM THE DISC CUTTER AND BETWEEN IT AND THE SAID FIRSTCAN OPENER BODY PORTION, A SECOND BEARING MEANS CARRIED BY A SECOND CANOPENER BODY PORTION, A SECOND SHAFT ROTATABLY CARRIED BY THE SECONDBEARING MEANS, THE SECOND SHAFT HAVING A SLIGHT LONGITUDINAL PLAY IN ITSBEARING MEANS, A CAM RIM ENGAGING WHEEL CARRIED ON ONE END OF THE SECONDSHAFT ADJACENT TO THE DISC CUTTER, A SECOND CONE ON THE SECOND SHAFTCOAXIAL WITH AND ADJACENT THE CAN RIM ENGAGING WHEEL AND BETWEEN IT ANDTHE SECOND CAN OPENER BODY PORTION, THE FIRST AND SECOND CONES HAVINGTHEIR CONE FACES OPPOSITELY DISPOSED WHEREBY TO BE ENGAGEABLE WITH ONEANOTHER WHEN THE FIRST AND SECOND BEARING MEANS ARE ADJACENT ONEANOTHER, AT LEAST ONE OF THE BEARING MEANS MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROMTHE OTHER TO PERMIT INSERTION OF A CAN RIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND CUTTER,AND MEANS FOR MOVING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID BEARING MEANS RELATIVE TO THEOTHER AND ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING A CAN RIM BETWEEN THE DISC CUTTER ANDCAN RIM ENGAGING WHEEL AND THE FIRST AND SECOND CONES WITH ONE ANOTHER,THE SECOND CONE POSITIONED NEXT TO THE CAN RIM ENGAGING WHEEL ANDNORMALLY RECEIVING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAME IN A RECESS IN THE FACETHEREOF.